US2120510A

US2120510A - Rotary tube closure

Info

Publication number: US2120510A
Application number: US129253A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank O Rhoads
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-03-05
Filing date: 1937-03-05
Publication date: 1938-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 1955-06-14

Description

June 14, 1938. F. o. RHOADS 2,120,510

ROTARY TUBE CLOSURE Filed Mapch 5, 19:57; 1 2 sheets-sheet 1 33 a4- an A .30 4 52 an 37 56 INVENTOR F rmly Q. hoadS Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of rotary tube closures of the type used in sealing the dispensing ends of collapsible metal tubes which are used for packaging various commodities.

The structure of my device is such that it may be used fixedly as part of ,the tube, to be sold with the same, or as an attachment which may be screwed onto a. collapsible tube in lieu of the normal cap which is used to close the tube until it is in the hands of the consumer.

My present construction has as its principal object the provision of a tube closure that ohtsins its closing action through the revolving of a spherical member which, in turn, has a passsgeway through its diameter.

A further object is to provide a. spherical, rotary closure member which will be tightly seated during the dispensing of the tubes contents; will be freed for easy movement during the transition period between the opened and closed position, and will be again firmly seated when the spherical member is turned so as to seal the tube. This is a matter of considerable importance in that it insures that, during the dispensing of the tubes contents, the paste will not work around the spherical surface into the mechanism that is associated with it and eventually cause the some to lock or, at best, work with dihiculty. Further, my device assures that when the tube is closed it will be tightly sealed so that even the lighter oils which may separate from paste preperations will not be able to leak out around the closure.

Gther and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, each of which is shown considerably enlarged over its normally preferred size, wherein Figxue is a, side elevation of my tube closure means, the some being shown midway between opened and closed positions.

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view through my device as it would appear in its closed posifion.

3 is a perspective view showing the upper esp member of my device as it would appear inverted from the position in Figure l.

figure 4 shows, in perspective, the base member of my closure. This might be either a portion of the tube itself or a separate attachment which could be screwed onto the conventionsl tube in lieu of its usual cop.

Figure 5 is a, perspective view of the spherical closure member.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the under side of the collar member shown in Figure with the tube, itself, or the tube engaging extension, broken away to more clearly illustrate the cam construction.

Figures '2 to 12, inclusive, illustrate the se-- quence of steps in opening a dispenser equipped with my device.

Figure 7 is an elevation of my tube closure, similar to Figure 1, excepting the spherical. closure member is shown in closed position and with certain parts of the retaining cap shown in section.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view, in plan, of Figure '7 taken along the line 8-8 of the some.

Figure 9 illustrates in elevation my closure midway between its opened and closed'positions.

Figure 10 is-a vertical, sectional view through the'same in the position shown in Figures 1 and Q.

Figure 11 is a view, in elevation, showing my closure in its opened, or dispensing, position.

Figure 12 is a. vertical, sectional View through my device in the position shown in Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, l4 designates the base member of my device. This may be either the upper end of a, collapsible tube V or it may be a, member flanged out and equipped with internal threads .to replace the ordinary cap found on a collapsible tube, after the showing of Figure 2. In either case it is provided with a central here it and an annular rim la. The upper end of bore E5 is formed so as to accommodate a portion of a sphere.

Disposed upon surface 26 and coaxially with bore 56 is the sphericalclosure member 22 shown in detail in Figure 5. This member in turn is provided with a dismetric bore 24 and, disposed at right angles to bore 24 are two oppositely extending and diametrically opposed journals 26 and 2?. One of these journals has, formed on a. portion of its periphery, the gear segment 28. Partially enclosing sphere 22 is the cover, or retaining member Edi This is provided in its upper portion with a spherical seat to engage sphere Z2 and is provided in addition with bearings as 32 adapted to engage journelportions of lugs 2d and 2?. A downwardly extending flange portion to is provided to house the operating parts and at its extreme lower edge are provided a pinrality of cam followers 36 which also serve as holding down lugs for cover Method of operation lugs, or followers, to are then bent into position,

where they serve to hold the assembly together and also operatively engage cams Q8 disposed on the under side of rim iii. In this connection it is desired to point out that there should be the same so I have illustrated three sets. This number, however, may be varied in accordance with the requirements of the particular design in question.

At the time theunit is assembled, gear segment 28, formed as part of the spherical member 22, is disposed in the lower semi-circle so that when cap 30 is in place definite stops will be provided for the teeth at 42 and 43.

On the upper surface of rim I8 is disposed a set of teeth 45 adapted to mesh with teeth 28 and limiting stops as 48 are provided at each end of the normal travel of teeth 28. In Figures? sphere 22 is shown in its closed position with the teeth abutting stop 42 and with followers 36 riding on their matching cams 40 so as to tighten sphere 22 firmly on its seat 20. Now, in opening the device the cover 30 is grasped, normally, by the, preferably, knurled rim 34 and turned to the left in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 7. There will be an appreciable movement before teeth 28 engage teeth 45. This will give sufficient interval for followers 36 to be moved off of earns 40 so that sphere 22 is free in its .seat a'ter the showing of Figure 9. A continuation of this movement carries teeth 45 on beyond teeth 28 which then abut stop 43. A continuation of this movement seats followers 36 again on cams 40 thus again firmly seating member 22 on seat 20.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a receptacle having a neck provided with a passage therethrough, of a 2 2,120,510 number of cams and followers. In the drawings rotary valve head having a port therethrough, opposed lugs on said head journaled on said neck, one of said lugs having an arcuate rack thereon, a rack on said neck adapted for co-action with said arcuate rack whereby rotary motion imparted to said valve head will aline said passage and port.

2. The combination with a receptacle having a neck provided with a passage therethrough, of an annular collar on said neck having an annular ring, a rotary ported valve head seated on said collar, opposed lugs on said head, an arcuate rack on one of said lugs, a rack on said collar adapted for oo-action with said'arcuate rack, and a retaining-plate for said head having journals for said lugs whereby rotation of said plate will rotate and revolve said head to aline said passage and port.

3. The combination with a receptacle having a neck provided with a passage therethrough, of an annular collar on said neck having an annular ring provided with cam faces on its under side, a rotary ported valve head seated on said collar, opposed lugs on said head, an arcuate rack on one of said lugs, a rack on saidcollar adapted for coaction with said arcuate rack provided with camfollowers for said cam faces and having journals for said lugs whereby partial rotation of said plate will release said head and further rotation of said head will rotate and revolvev said head to aline said passage and port.

4. The combination with a receptacle having a neck provided with a passage therethrough, of a rotary valve head having a port therethrough, opposed lugs on said head journaled on said neck, one of said lugs having an arcuate rack thereon, a rack on said neck adapted for co-actlon with said arcuate rack whereby rotary motion imparted to said valve head will aline said-passage and port, and means for alternately retaining said head in closed or open position.

1 FRANK O. RHOADS.